Bigger assessed failing grade

The start of September marks the start of a new school year. Students everywhere are gearing up for homework, tests and report cards.

Municipal candidates are also gearing up this fall as we head into next month’s election. And just like students, elected officials will be getting their own report cards on Oct. 22, where they will receive a passing or failing grade from the citizens of Greater Sudbury.

As we start hearing more from all of the candidates – myself included – about what they will deliver for our city, it’s important to start with a review of our current mayor’s performance.

After all, Bigger has had four years to improve things at city hall. So let’s take a look at how he measures up.

When Bigger ran for mayor in 2014, he promised three things. He told us he would freeze taxes; deliver savings; and bring greater accountability to city hall.

Bigger didn’t raise taxes in the first year. But he did that by dipping into the city’s reserves. To be clear, he dipped into our savings account and withdrew $6 million to pay for his election promise. And then, each year after that, he raised taxes. In four years, Bigger has raised our taxes by more than double the rate of inflation.

As for rate fees, our water rates will have risen by 30 per cent come January 2019.When it comes to savings, Bigger told us he’d seen the books at city hall and knew where the skeletons were. And yet, in four years, this mayor has yet to produce any significant savings. Department budgets went up. Services went down. We are in a worse state than we were four years ago. Our roads are worse. Transportation is a big issue. And our economy is stalled.

As for accountability, you know you’re in trouble when your tax rates keep going up higher and faster than your household income rate. It’s simply not sustainable. And transparency at city hall doesn’t seem to exist. There is less information available today on critical items such as the city budget and spending on major projects.

It’s not complicated. We need to respect taxpayer money. We need to spend wisely. And we need to invest in the things that are most important to seniors, young professionals and families.

And yet, we are not better off than we were four years ago. Our roads are not better. Our neighborhoods are not better. Our economy is not better. And for that, Bigger gets a failing grade.

Oct. 22 is our chance to change the course for Greater Sudbury. We’ve seen a Bigger Sudbury. It’s time for a better one.

Patricia Mills is one of 11 candidates running for mayor in the Oct. 22 election.